Indian Sikh pilgrims visit revered Dera Sahib in Lahore

Lahore, Apr 18 : Hundreds of Sikhs from India paid visit to revered shrine of Dera Sahib in Pakistan and offered prayers in Lahore on Friday.

Thousands of Sikhs from India reached Pakistan on last Friday on a pilgrimage on the occasion of Baisakhi, the Sikh New Year and a harvest festival.

The groups of Sikh pilgrims are visiting Sikh shrines in Pakistan including Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Nankana Sahib, Sucha Sodha, Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Rorri Sahib, and Kartarpur to usher in the new year on the occasion of the Baisakhi festival.

A group of about nine hundred Sikh devotees offered payers at Gurudwara Dera Sahib.

Gurudwara Dera Sahib is situated opposite the historic Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque. This is the place where Sikh Guru Arjun Dev was martyred in1606 AD.

The Gurudwara was built by Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the memory of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru who complied the Adi Granth, the principal part of Sikh scriptures.

The followers of Guru Arjan Singh assert that it is the same spot where Guru Arjan Dev miraculously disappeared in 1606 A.D. in the waters of river Ravi.

This mausoleum of the powerful ruler of the Sikh dynasty stands nearby, just opposite the Lahore Fort. His Samadhi occupies the spot where he was cremated.

The Pakistani Government has reportedly made adequate arrangements for the accommodation of Indian pilgrims to ensure peaceful and calm journey.